Gennady Golovkin vs. Ryōta Murata

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Big Drama in Japan
Official fight poster for the boxing match between Gennady Golovkin and Ryota Murata.
DateApril 9, 2022
VenueSaitama Super Arena, Saitama City, Saitama, Japan
Title(s) on the lineWBA (Super), IBF, and IBO middleweight titles
Tale of the tape
Boxer Gennady Golovkin Ryōta Murata
Nickname GGG
Hometown Karaganda, Kazakh SSR, Soviet Union Nara City, Nara, Japan
Pre-fight record 41–1–1 (36 KO) 16–2 (13 KO)
Height 5 ft 10+1⁄2 in (179 cm) 6 ft 0 in (183 cm)
Style Orthodox Orthodox
Recognition IBF and IBO middleweight champion WBA (Super) middleweight champion

Gennady Golovkin vs. Ryōta Murata, billed as Big Drama in Japan, is an upcoming middleweight unification professional boxing match contested between IBF and IBO champion, Gennady Golovkin and WBA (Super) champion, Ryōta Murata. The bout will take place at Saitama Super Arena, Saitama, Japan on April 9, 2022.[1]

Background[]

After multiple rumors of a middleweight unification match between titlists Gennady Golovkin and Ryōta Murata, it was announced on October 27, 2021 that a deal had finally been agreed between the two to stage the bout in the latter's home country of Japan, at the Saitama Super Arena on December 29, 2021.[2] However, the bout was postponed due to Japan closing its borders because of the COVID-19 Omicron variant.[3] It was later rescheduled on April 9, 2022.[1]

Golovkin is a two-time middleweight champion, having held the IBF and IBO titles since defeating Sergiy Derevyanchenko in a fight of the year contender in 2019.[4] He previously held the unified WBA (Super), WBC, IBF and IBO titles between 2014 and 2018, in addition to being ranked as the world's best boxer, pound for pound, from September 2017 to September 2018 by The Ring magazine. Prior to the bout against Murata, he made a record 21st middleweight title defense against Kamil Szeremeta on December 18, 2020.[5]

Murata is an Olympic gold medalist, having claimed gold at the 2012 Summer Olympics.[6] As a professional, he has defeated every opponent he has faced, having avenged decision losses against Hassan N'Dam N'Jikam and Rob Brant with stoppage victories.[7]

Fight card[]

Weight Class vs. Method Round Time Notes
Middleweight Kazakhstan Gennady Golovkin (c) vs. Japan Ryōta Murata (c) – (12) Note 1

^Note 1 For WBA (Super), IBF and IBO middleweight titles

Broadcasting[]

Country/Region Free-to-air Cable/Satellite PPV Stream
 Japan (host) N/A Amazon Prime[8]
 Kazakhstan TBA
Worldwide N/A DAZNexcl.

^excl. Live on DAZN worldwide, excluding Japan and Kazakhstan

References[]

  1. ^ a b Coppinger, Mike (1 March 2022). "Gennadiy Golovkin-Ryota Murata middleweight title unification fight set for April 9 in Japan, sources say". ESPN. Archived from the original on 3 March 2022. Retrieved 3 March 2022.
  2. ^ "Sources: Golovkin, Murata agree on Dec. 29 bout". ESPN.com. 2021-10-27. Retrieved 2021-11-05.
  3. ^ The Athletic Staff (3 December 2021). "Gennadiy Golovkin vs. Ryota Murata postponed due to COVID-19 travel restrictions in Japan". The Athletic. Archived from the original on 3 March 2022. Retrieved 3 March 2022.
  4. ^ "Golovkin vs Derevyanchenko: GGG rallies to edge out Sergiy Derevyanchenko". Sky Sports. Retrieved 2021-11-05.
  5. ^ "GGG dominates Szeremeta in 7th-round stoppage". ESPN.com. 2020-12-19. Retrieved 2021-11-05.
  6. ^ Christ, Scott (2012-08-11). "Olympics 2012 Boxing Results: Ryota Murata Edges Esquiva Falcao For Middleweight Gold Medal". Bad Left Hook. Retrieved 2021-11-05.
  7. ^ "BoxRec: Ryota Murata". boxrec.com. Retrieved 2021-11-05.
  8. ^ "村田諒太－ゴロフキン戦はAmazon生配信、地上波生中継なし - ボクシング : 日刊スポーツ". nikkansports.com (in Japanese). Retrieved 2021-11-13.
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